Conventionally priced liquid container with unique optical properties

Abstract

Method and apparatus for creating highly articulated lenses and lens arrays from the combined effect of a clear-sided container of clear liquid whose sides are of uniform, conventional thickness, and may therefore be manufactured with conventional methods at conventional prices. The container's sides are shaped into the form of the surface of a lens or lens array, and in combination with the clear fluid within, whose index of refraction is close to that of the container wall, performs the function normally performed by a single lens of glass or plastic and focuses light on a plane within, or outside of said container. Such a container can be used both as an enhanced labeling display for clear fluid containers such as water, soda, liquors, liquid soap and many other liquid products, as well for as a display device only, enabling otherwise impractically thick and expensive lenses.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A container for containing a substantially transparent, or clear liquid, the container having a width, with clear first and second side walls having a thickness less than the width of the container, the second side wall having an interior and an exterior surface being shaped in a contour of curved surfaces of lenses and/or lens arrays on both the exterior and interior surface of the second wall, the exterior surface having a convex lens shape and the interior surface having a concave lens shape corresponding to the convex lens shape, the lens shapes being substantially more articulated than those of a rounded or curved bottle or container, such that if the container is filled with clear liquid located between the side walls, the clear liquid would contact the interior surface of the second wall having the concave lens shape, and light rays passing through the second side wall would become focused on a focal plane located substantially in the first side wall when viewed outside the container through the second side wall and the liquid would complete the lens effect, to focus light rays on an image at the focal plane, compared to light rays which would pass through the second side wall, and not be focused on the first side wall, if the container is empty. 
     
     
       2. The container according to  claim 1 , in which at least one outer side of the container is shaped as a lens, or lens array whose focal plane is at the outer side of its opposite, smooth, planar side, where a label, bearing an image on its inner side, is affixed. 
     
     
       3. The container, according to  claim 2 , in which sides of two containers are affixed together to form a dual container. 
     
     
       4. The container according to  claim 3 , in which the sides are indented and contain a label, such that the label's outer side is on the same plane as the rest of the outer side of the container to facilitate affixing, and which container can hold two separate types of clear liquid, accessible through two separate container mouths. 
     
     
       5. The container according to  claim 3 , in which indented portions are extended to reach one side to the container to define a cavity, such that a label with an image on both sides may be inserted into the cavity. 
     
     
       6. The container according to  claim 5  in which the walls of the indented areas are lens-shaped so as to focus on the plane of the inserted label, and whose opposite, outer sides are a smooth plane. 
     
     
       7. The container according to  claim 3 , in which the dual container is molded in a single piece such that the fluid fills both halves and the container has only one mouth. 
     
     
       8. The container according to  claim 1 , in which the outer sides of the container are shaped in the contour of the surfaces of lenses or lens arrays, whose lens effect is completed by the clear fluid contained within, and whose focal plane lies within the volume of the fluid. 
     
     
       9. The container according to  claim 8 , in which an inserted image is printed with inks not soluble in the contained clear liquid, on a thin, flexible substrate, which, when inserted through the mouth of the container, springs open outwardly into a shape which becomes disposed at the focal plane of the lens-shaped sides, with the help of spacers formed into itself or the container sides. 
     
     
       10. The container according to  claim 1 , in which a flat or curved, substantially planar, liquid-filled container functions primarily as a display lens or lens array, rather than as an ordinary practical fluid container, wherein the container is thinner compared to its width and height. 
     
     
       11. The container according to  claim 1 , in which the focal plane lies at an outer surface of an opposite, smooth, planar side. 
     
     
       12. The container according to  claim 1 , in which the focal plane lies within the container. 
     
     
       13. The container according to  claim 12 , in which an image is inserted into the clear fluid at the focal plane of the lensed side, which image is provided with floatation devices, such that it can be moved. 
     
     
       14. The container according to  claim 13 , in which the image can be moved by at least one of magnetic or variable buoyancy means. 
     
     
       15. A container for containing a substantially transparent, or clear liquid, comprising a first clear side wall and second clear side wall, the second side wall having an interior and an exterior surface being shaped in a contour of the surfaces of lenses and/or lens arrays on both the exterior and interior surface of the second wall, the exterior surface having a convex lens shape and the interior surface having a concave lens shape corresponding to the convex lens shape, the lens shapes being substantially more articulated than those of a rounded or curved bottle or container, such that if the container is filled with clear liquid located between the side walls, the clear liquid would contact the interior surface of the second wall having the concave lens shape, and light rays passing through the second side wall would become focused on a focal plane located substantially in the first side wall when viewed outside the container through the second side wall and the liquid of the lenses and/or lens arrays and would complete the lens effect, to focus light rays on an image at the focal plane, compared to light rays which would pass through the second side wall and not be focused on the first side wall if the container is empty and wherein the container defines a label location region for holding a label with the image at the focal plane. 
     
     
       16. The container according to  claim 15 , wherein the focal plane is located at a second side opposite from the first side, wherein the label location region is located on the second side. 
     
     
       17. The container, according to  claim 15 , comprising two containers affixed together. 
     
     
       18. The container according to  claim 17 , wherein the two containers define discrete internal liquid containing regions which are not in liquid communication, and wherein the container has two mouths. 
     
     
       19. The container according to  claim 17 , wherein the two containers define two internal fluid containing regions which are in fluid communication and wherein the container has one mouth. 
     
     
       20. The container according to  claim 17 , wherein the label location region is located between the two containers. 
     
     
       21. The container according to  claim 20 , wherein the label locator region holds a label having images on both sides. 
     
     
       22. The container according to  claim 15 , wherein the label location region is located within the container, spread from the first clear side. 
     
     
       23. The container according to  claim 15 , wherein the label location region is defined by an indented area within the container. 
     
     
       24. The container according to  claim 22 , wherein the label contains an image printed with insoluble inks and wherein the label is a thin flexible substrate which is adapted to be inserted through mouth of the container. 
     
     
       25. The container according to  claim 24 , wherein the substrate is folded to be inserted through the container mouth, becomes unfolded after insertion to be essentially planar and dispersed at the focal plane. 
     
     
       26. The container according to  claim 25 , wherein the container has spaces which locate the substrate at the focal plane. 
     
     
       27. The container according to  claim 15 , wherein the lenses with contained fluid define a focal plane within the container. 
     
     
       28. The container according to  claim 15 , wherein the distance between the first side and second side is substantially less than the width and height of the container. 
     
     
       29. The container according to  claim 15 , wherein the label location region is accessed from outside the container, to enable insertion of a label after the container is formed. 
     
     
       30. The container according to  claim 15 , wherein the lenses with contained fluid define a focal plane at the outer surface of the second side. 
     
     
       31. The container according to  claim 15 , wherein the label location region is located within the container, and including a label, which floats within the container. 
     
     
       32. The container according to  claim 31 , wherein the label has a magnetic property to enable movement of the label by an exterior magnet. 
     
     
       33. The container according to  claim 31 , including a device to control the position of the label within the label location region.